Genealogy Chat

Has anyone ever taken a rubbing of a headstone using paper and charcoal? Do you have to apply to the relevant parish authorities before going ahead? How do you clean the headstones? Any advice appreciated. Richard

Claening very old headstone can be frowned upon, take advice from the local cemetaries dept. Cant see as you need permission to do a headstone rubbing as long as you take care,Not an ordinary family memebr one in a churchyard somewhere. Would have though a charcoal would smudge very easily. what about a wax crayon as we did at school?

I would gently apply a light dusting of talc or flour and then blow it off when I'd finished. If the stone is already crumbling, rubbing by applying pressure can make bits disintegrate and fall off. jay.

Yes, charcoal might well smudge, unless I use a can of fixative. I thought crayon might be a bit too hard. I recently found five mid-18th cent. headstones of direct ancestors of mine in a little village in the Cotswolds. Most Cotswolds headstones are in an unreadable condition, even ones from the 19th century, so it'll only be a matter of time before these five are rendered totally illegible! I've got photos but I'd like something more tangible. I just don't want some parish do-good assailing me while I'm doing it!

Richard, just a thought, but would it be worth contacting the Church Warden just in case some worthy has recorded all the headstones inscriptions long ago? I went to see my GGPx4 and several family members - about 2 centuries old headstones. Hardly readable BUT the local Lord of the Manor had nearly 150 years before gone into the churchyard recording and making sketches of all the stones and writing down the inscriptions - very handy for me - and only found out whilst chatting to the Warden. Its a Victorian sort of thing to do isnt it? So you may also be lucky.

You should get permission before doing rubings. The headstone is owned by the family of the deceased and the masons who put it in place. Councils take responsibility for old stones where the family/mason are all deceased - a stone from 1700 will be cared for by the council, but a stone from 2000 belongs to the family/mason. It is best to speak to the church/cemetery wardens. If the stone is damaged in any way please do not attempt to clean or rub it. You will cause more damage. The stone should be cleaned with water and something soft, such as cloth. Wax crayon or chalk can be used for rubbing. The crayon needs to be flat, this can be achieved by cutting a rounded crayon down one side. Chalk requires a fixative, be careful not to get this on the stone. The paper needs to be smooth and as thin as possible to get a good rubbing. You should also take some tape to hold the paper in place, it is difficult to rub and support the paper.

This might be a silly suggestion, and someone might have a good reason for wanting to do a rubbing, but: Surely a good quality digital photograph of the headstone would provide the information without the possibility of damaging the headstone - or am I missing something? regards Looby